Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A retractable sheath for use with a catheter for delivering treatment to a body lumen of a patient, said sheath comprising: a tubular sheath body for covering a treatment-delivering portion of the catheter and having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a collar radially disposed about and attached to said proximal end of said sheath body; a strand including a peelable portion having a first end and a free portion having a free end; said peelable portion being embedded in said inner surface of said sheath body and extending axially from said collar to said distal end of said sheath body, said first end of said peelable portion being affixed to said collar and said free portion of said strand extending out of said distal end of said sheath body and resting alongside said outer surface of said sheath body further extending back towards said proximal end of said sheath body; whereby the proximal application of a tearing force to said free end of said free portion of said strand causes said peelable portion to cut through said sheath body up to said collar, said collar being resistant to the tearing force applied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A retractable sheath for use with a catheter for delivering treatment to a body lumen of a patient, said sheath comprising: a tubular sheath body for covering a treatment-delivering portion of the catheter and having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end; a collar radially disposed about and attached to said proximal end of said sheath body; a strand including a peelable portion having a first end and a free portion having a free end; said peelable portion being embedded in said inner surface of said sheath body and extending axially from said collar to said distal end of said sheath body, said first end of said peelable portion being affixed to said collar and said free portion of said strand extending out of said distal end of said sheath body and resting alongside said outer surface of said sheath body further extending back towards said proximal end of said sheath body; whereby the proximal application of a tearing force to said free end of said free portion of said strand causes said peelable portion to cut through said sheath body up to said collar, said collar being resistant to the tearing force applied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sheath according to claim 1, wherein said distal end of said sheath body includes a notch, to facilitate the tearing of said sheath body by said peelable portion of said strand upon proximal application of a tearing force.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A sheath according to claim 1, wherein said sheath body further includes a perforation extending axially from said distal end towards said proximal end, to encourage the propagation of said peelable portion of said strand through said sheath body upon proximal application of a tearing force.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
A sheath according to claim 1, wherein said collar is formed from a first layer and a second layer of said proximal end of said sheath body, said first layer doubled over said second layer of said proximal end of said sheath body so that said collar is resistant to the tearing force of said strand.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheath according to claim 1, wherein said collar further comprises a coaxial tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sheath according to claim 5, wherein said coaxial tube is provided with a cleft to form a split along said tube for facilitating the removal of said sheath from the catheter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
227 words
A displaceable sheath intended for use with a catheter for delivering treatment to a body lumen of a patient, said sheath comprising: a hollow sheath body for covering a treatment-delivering portion of the catheter, said sheath body having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open proximal end, and a distal end having an aperture; a collar radially disposed about and affixed to said open proximal end of said sheath body; and a first strand including a first peelable portion with a first collar end and a first free portion adjacent said first peelable portion having a first free end, said first collar end of said first peelable portion being affixed to said collar and said first peelable portion extending from said collar along said inner surface of said sheath body and out of said aperture in said distal end of said sheath body, and said first free portion of said first strand extending back from said distal end of said sheath body back towards said open proximal end of said sheath body against said outer surface of said sheath body; whereby the proximal application of a tearing force to said first free end of said first free portion of said first strand causes said first peelable portion to cut through said sheath body up to said collar, said collar being resistant to the tearing force applied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
227 words
A displaceable sheath intended for use with a catheter for delivering treatment to a body lumen of a patient, said sheath comprising: a hollow sheath body for covering a treatment-delivering portion of the catheter, said sheath body having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open proximal end, and a distal end having an aperture; a collar radially disposed about and affixed to said open proximal end of said sheath body; and a first strand including a first peelable portion with a first collar end and a first free portion adjacent said first peelable portion having a first free end, said first collar end of said first peelable portion being affixed to said collar and said first peelable portion extending from said collar along said inner surface of said sheath body and out of said aperture in said distal end of said sheath body, and said first free portion of said first strand extending back from said distal end of said sheath body back towards said open proximal end of said sheath body against said outer surface of said sheath body; whereby the proximal application of a tearing force to said first free end of said first free portion of said first strand causes said first peelable portion to cut through said sheath body up to said collar, said collar being resistant to the tearing force applied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sheath according to claim 7, wherein said aperture in said distal end of said sheath body includes a notch, to facilitate the tearing of said sheath body by said first peelable portion of said first strand upon proximal application of a tearing force.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sheath according to claim 7, wherein said sheath body further includes a perforation extending axially from said distal end towards said proximal end, to encourage the propagation of said first peelable portion of said first strand through said sheath body upon proximal application of a tearing force.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
A sheath according to claim 7, wherein said collar is formed from a first layer and a second layer of said proximal end of said sheath body, said first layer doubled over said second layer of said proximal end of said sheath body so that said collar is resistant to the tearing force of said first strand.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sheath according to claim 7, wherein said collar further comprises a coaxial tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sheath according to claim 11, wherein said coaxial tube is provided with a cleft to form a split along said tube for facilitating the removal of said sheath from the catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A sheath according to claim 7, further comprising a second strand including a second peelable portion with a second collar end and a second free portion adjacent said second peelable portion having a second free end, said second collar end of said second peelable portion being affixed to said collar and said second peelable portion extending from said collar along said inner surface of said sheath body and out of said aperture in said distal end of said sheath body, and said second free portion of said second strand extending back from said distal end of said sheath body back towards said open proximal end of said sheath body against said outer surface of said sheath body; whereby the proximal application of a tearing force to said second free end of said second free portion of said second strand causes said second peelable portion to cut through said sheath body up to said collar, said collar being resistant to the tearing force applied.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
275 words
A method of protecting a vessel wall from damage during the implantation of a medical device in a patient with a delivery catheter whereby the medical device is surrounded by a protective sheath, the sheath comprising a sheath body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, a collar affixed to said proximal end, a strand affixed to said collar, routed along the inner surface of the sheath body and having a free portion that extends out of the distal end of the sheath body and having a free end, said method comprising the steps of: loading the medical device to be implanted on the delivery catheter; surrounding the medical device with the sheath; orienting the free portion of the strand so that it lies alongside the outer surface of the sheath body and extends towards the proximal end of the sheath body; inserting the delivery catheter in the body lumen of a patient while preventing the free end from entering the lumen; routing the catheter so that the device carried thereon and which is protected by the sheath is positioned at the site at which implantation is to occur; pulling the free end of the strand proximally of the patient to cause the strand to slice through the sheath body up to the collar; pulling further on the free end of the strand to apply a force to the collar, which collar is resistant to being cut by the strand, to cause the collar to travel proximally along the catheter and thus pull the severed sheath away from the medical device so that implantation then can be accomplished.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
275 words
A method of protecting a vessel wall from damage during the implantation of a medical device in a patient with a delivery catheter whereby the medical device is surrounded by a protective sheath, the sheath comprising a sheath body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, a collar affixed to said proximal end, a strand affixed to said collar, routed along the inner surface of the sheath body and having a free portion that extends out of the distal end of the sheath body and having a free end, said method comprising the steps of: loading the medical device to be implanted on the delivery catheter; surrounding the medical device with the sheath; orienting the free portion of the strand so that it lies alongside the outer surface of the sheath body and extends towards the proximal end of the sheath body; inserting the delivery catheter in the body lumen of a patient while preventing the free end from entering the lumen; routing the catheter so that the device carried thereon and which is protected by the sheath is positioned at the site at which implantation is to occur; pulling the free end of the strand proximally of the patient to cause the strand to slice through the sheath body up to the collar; pulling further on the free end of the strand to apply a force to the collar, which collar is resistant to being cut by the strand, to cause the collar to travel proximally along the catheter and thus pull the severed sheath away from the medical device so that implantation then can be accomplished.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the proximal end of the sheath body includes a notch, and the step of orienting the free portion of the strand further includes the step of orienting the free portion of the strand so that it rests in the notch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the collar comprises a portion of the proximal end of the sheath body that is doubled back on itself.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the portion of the strand that is routed along the inner surface of the sheath body is embedded in the sheath body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the collar is a coaxial tube surrounding the delivery catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the medical device to be implanted is an intraluminal stent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the medical device to be implanted is a stent-and-graft combination.